PORT CLINTON - With Christmas less than a week away, hundreds of needy families from throughout Ottawa County now have the chance to put gifts under the tree thanks to the local Toys for Tots program.

The Salvation Army of Ottawa County held its annual Toys for Tots distribution day at its service center in Port Clinton on Wednesday, with dozens of volunteers guiding and assisting participating families in picking out toys, games, books, clothes and more.

The program serves over 1,000 area families each year, including more than 400 that participate on distribution day. Among the many volunteers were members of the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol.

ShirLee Eberle is a frequent volunteer for many different organizations and programs in the area, but Wednesday was the first time she volunteered on the Toys for Tots distribution day.

Eberle said volunteers have been working hard for months to help the local Salvation Army make the distribution day the success that it was on Wednesday.

And while the Toys for Tots program here helps put thousands of toys in the hands of Ottawa County children that otherwise may not have gifts to open on Christmas Day, it also helps their parents or guardians.

“Toys for Tots is unique because you’re helping children, but you’re also helping parents feel good about themselves,” Eberle said. “It’s important that everybody’s self esteem, especially at the holidays, is in the right place.”

For example, Eberle said, she spoke to a mother who cannot work as she is on medical leave and would not have been able to put gifts under the tree for her children if not for Toys for Tots.

Shelby Jennings, of Port Clinton, picked out gifts for her 5-year-old son — toys, games, stuffed animals, books, even socks and a coat among them.

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Sherila Carter, right, helps Shelby Jennings pick out games for her 5-year-old son during the local Salvation Army's annual Toys for Tots distribution.(Photo: Jon Stinchcomb/News Herald)

It was a quick and smooth process when picking gifts for one young child. For others, some choosing gifts for as many as eight kids, it took a bit longer.

But the many volunteers made it a very welcoming, friendly and fun environment.

“It’s not the easiest thing to come and do something like this,” said Sherila Carter, a volunteer helping families through the process on Wednesday. “There’s so much pressure in this society for the kids to have something under the tree. How would you explain to a 5-year-old that there’s not going to be anything?”

Carter has been a bell ringer for the Salvation Army for eight years, but this also was her first year volunteering on the Toys for Tots distribution day.

Ottawa County families wait in line outside the local Salvation Army service center to participate in the annual Toys for Tots program, which had its distribution day on Wednesday.(Photo: Jon Stinchcomb/News Herald)